The Best of Times March 2012 by Gary Calligas

March 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebrating Age and Maturityâ&#x20AC;?

Unleash Your

Creativity

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March 2012

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March 2012

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2 1 0 2 h c r a M 8 Briefs 8

Stat! Medical News

Features

16 Advice

18 Laws of the Land Where’s the Life Insurance

11 Unleash Your Creativity 14 Tips for Saving Money on Taxes 16 A Bird’s Eye View of History

Policy?

20 Dear Pharmacist Soothe Stress with

Supplements

22 From the Bench Be Careful What You

Communicate

26 Money Matters Tax Strategies in a Tough

28 Moving Free with Mirabai Exercising for Diabetes:

Day of Wine and Flowers

32 Broadway: A Personal Perspective Porgy and Bess, Wit, and

The Road to Mecca

In Every Issue 34 What’s Cooking? The Irish in America

36 Our Famous Puzzle Pages Crossword, Sudoku, &

Word Search

38 Get Up & Go! 42 Parting Shots The Best Of Times

Good Fat Burns Calories

Columns

30 Traveltizers

Economy

Cover: Roxanne Bosserman paints at her art class. (Photo by Kelly Phelan Powell) March 2012

Publisher Gary L. Calligas Gary.Calligas@gmail.com

INA’s URN

ost of us follow a very traditional life path - school, marriage, families, jobs. Every minute of every day is spoken for by one responsibility or another. But in the midst of the chaos did you ever have a desire to do something for yourself? Perhaps you wanted to learn to play an instrument or a new language, write a story, or paint something other than your kitchen cabinets, but just couldn't find the time? Or you had the time, but thought you weren't talented or creative enough? One of the great blessings of middle age and beyond is the freedom to pursue hidden talents and the self confidence to explore long-forgotten passions. In this month's main feature we meet a group of people who have taken that first step to indulge their inner artist. Who knows? There might be one among us like Grandma Moses whose painting career began in her seventies or like Laura Ingalls Wilder who did not publish her first novel until her sixties. But if not, so what? They're making new friends, experimenting, having fun and discovering the joy of being creative. We also bring you a fascinating profile of Frank Crook who had a bird's eye view of WWII, bring you tips for getting ready for tax season, take you on a trip to the Texas Hill Country for a wine tasting, and bring you some amazing recipes for St. Patrick's Day. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. See you next month.

Tina

Silver Pages is Here Look for it at many of our distribution sites or send your name and address and $5 for shipping and handling to: Silver Pages, PO Box 19510 Shreveport, LA 71149. 6

March 2012

Editor Tina Miaoulis Calligas Editor.Calligas@gmail.com

March 2012 • Vol. 21, No. 3 Founded in 1992 as Senior Scene News ISSN Library of Congress #1551-4366

Design Jessica Rinaudo

A monthly publication from: TBT Multimedia, LLC P.O. Box 19510 Shreveport, LA 71149 (318) 636-5510 www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Account Executive Heather Hebert gvgdglryl@yahoo.com Jo Anne Woodard tbt.woodard@gmail.com

For a mailed subscription, send your name, address, and $20 to cover postage and handling to the address above.

Lisa Cox lethacox@hotmail.com

THE FINE PRINT: All original content published in THE BEST OF TIMES copyright © 2012 by TBT Multimedia, LLC, all rights reserved. Replication, in whole or in part by any means is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication, TBT Mulitmedia, its publishers or staff. Always consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with financial, medical, legal or emotional matters. We cannot accept liability for omissions or errors and cannot be responsible for the claims of advertisers.

The Best of Times

Radio Hour

Hosted by Gary Calligas Broadcasting every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on AM 1130 KWKH, A Townsquare Media Radio Station in Shreveport, LA. Streaming live on the internet www.KWKHonline.com

Writers Kelly Phelan Powell Mary Flanders Webmaster Dr. Jason P. Calligas Contributors Jason Alderman, Lee Aronson, Brian Bradley, Suzy Cohen, Judge Jeff Cox, Andrea Gross Mirabai Holland

march 3 “Barksdale AFB Museum” Terry Snook, Museum President March 10 "CCOA and BCOA programs" Mary Alice Rountree and Tamara Crane, Executive Directors of Caddo Council and Bossier Council on Aging March 17 "Louisiana Association for the Blind" Shelly Taylor, President and Libby Murphy, Policy Director March 24 LIVE "Bodies Revealed Exhibition" BROADCAS T Karen Wissing, SciPort PR Manager. Sponsored by Dr. Gary Booker. (See pg 38 for details)

March 31 “Tarzan: Lord of the Louisiana Jungle Documentary” Al Bohl, Executive Producer/Director Do you have a question for one of our guests? Call 320-1130 during the broadcast or email Gary.Calligas@gmail.com prior to the show.

Previously aired programs are available at www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

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The Best Of Times

March 2012

➺

Stat! Medical News

Twinkle, Twinkle Kidney Stone: With a Push You Could Be Gone

Love Good for the Heart

Being involved in a healthy, loving relationship is good for the heart, says Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute cardiologist Julie Damp, M.D. “There are a couple of different theories behind why that might be,” Damp said. People who are married or who are in close, healthy relationships tend to be less likely to smoke, are more physically active and are more likely to have a well-developed social structure, she said. They are also more likely to have lower levels of stress and anxiety in their day-to-day lives.

Weight Training Improves Parkinson’s Symptoms New research suggests weight training for two years significantly improves the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease compared to other forms of exercise such as stretching and balance exercises. The clinical trial, which compared two forms of exercise for Parkinson’s disease, will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in April.

Overeating May Double Risk of Memory Loss New research suggests that consuming between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day may double the risk of memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), among people age 70 and older. MCI is the stage between normal memory loss that comes with aging and early Alzheimer’s disease. The odds of having MCI more than doubled for those in the highest calorieconsuming group compared to those in the lowest calorie-consuming group. The results were the same after adjusting for history of stroke, diabetes, amount of education, and other factors that can affect risk of memory loss. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in April.

Just the mention of kidney stones can cause a person to cringe. They are often painful and sometimes difficult to remove, and 10 percent of the population will suffer from them. In space, the risk of developing kidney stones is exacerbated due to environmental conditions. The health risk is compounded by the fact that resource limitations and distance from Earth could restrict treatment options. Scientists with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are developing an ultrasound technology that could overcome some medical care challenges associated with kidney stone treatment. The new technology detects stones with advanced ultrasound imaging based on a process called “Twinkling Artifact” and provides treatment by “pushing” the stone with focused ultrasound. This technology could not only be beneficial for health care in space, but could also alter the treatment of kidney stones on Earth.

You Really Can Die From a Broken Heart A person’s risk of suffering a heart attack increases by approximately 21 times in the first 24 hours after losing a loved one, according to a study lead by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The study published in the journal Circulation found the risk of heart attack remained eight times above normal during the first week after the death of a loved one, slowly declining, but remaining elevated for at least a month. Researchers noted that emotional sense of the broken heart may actually lead to damage leading to a heart attack and a physical broken heart of a sort.

Walking Speed and Grip in Middle Age May Predict Dementia and Stroke Risk

Simple tests such as walking speed and hand grip strength may help doctors determine how likely it is a middle-aged person will develop dementia or stroke. That’s according to new research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in April. The study found people with a slower walking speed in middle age were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop dementia compared to people with faster walking speed. Stronger hand grip strength was associated with a 42% lower risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in people over age 65 compared to those with weaker hand grip strength. This was not the case, however, for people in the study under age 65. Researchers also found that slower walking speed was associated with lower total cerebral brain volume and poorer performance on memory, language and decision-making tests. Stronger hand grip strength was associated with larger total cerebral brain volume as well as better performance on cognitive tests asking people to identify similarities among objects.

March 2012

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The Best Of Times

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Unleash Your

Creativity

“It’s never too late.”

That’s one of the most oft-

repeated phrases these days in senior adult culture, mainly

because it rings so true. In ever-greater numbers, people over 50 are taking up hobbies like art, music, dance and crafting for the first time in their lives. It may be because, with their careers finally slowing down or retirement beginning, they can turn their attention to the finer things in life, rather than providing and making a home for their families. In some cases, these hobbies are translating into second – or third! – careers. Whatever the reason, men and women right here in ShreveportBossier are showing everyone the heights you can reach (and the fun you can have) when you simply decide to start.

R R

obin Clawson has been teaching art in Shreveport for over a decade. A painting major in college, she painted portraits for many years but never thought about teaching until her friend Paula Hickman expressed a desire to learn. Now she has about 50 students, all but half a dozen of which are over the age of 50. Many of them are complete beginners. “I’ve had people who have never picked up a brush in their lives,” she said. Clawson’s students come to her for a variety of reasons – some find painting therapeutic, while others are results-oriented individuals who like the fact that, once they finish a project, they have a piece of art to hang on a wall. Regardless of their objectives, she said there’s really only one thing her students need to be successful in her classes. “Fearlessness is the number-one quality you want. You can’t be timid, because you won’t take risks, and you won’t learn anything. If they make something and they don’t like it, they can always put it under the wheel of their car and roll over it,” she joked. The Best Of Times

Clawson has two pieces of advice for seniors who are considering taking up painting or another artistic pursuit. First, “It’s important for your mental health to continually learn something,” she said. “Your mind is a muscle; if you don’t exercise it, you won’t keep it for long.” And second, “Many people around 50 have spent a lifetime caring for other people, and they have not discovered some things about themselves. There’s no time like the present! Everyone has something to say,” she added. One of Clawson’s students, Brookie Walker, who studies acrylic painting and drawing, started taking classes for the simplest (and perhaps best) reason of all: to have a good time. “A friend of mine studies art, and she told me about her class, and it sounded fun,” she said. Though she developed an interest in art about 25 years ago while working as an elementary school librarian, she never took a stab at it until later in life. “The illustrations in children’s books extend the stories dramatically by expanding and illuminating the narrative. They are just wonderful and March 2012

fun. For me it was like Christmas when the new books came in,” she explained. Still, she was an absolute novice when she began studying with Clawson. “I could not draw stick people before taking this art class,” she said. Still active in her career as a history professor at Bossier Parish Community College, Walker says art is essential to her work even now. “I realized that pictures would nicely illustrate my lectures, so I began to read art history books from the library. I then took several art history classes at BPCC. They were absolutely fabulous courses,” she said. She urges anyone with an affinity for art to give it a shot, no matter what his or her age. “It is such a joy to find a new hobby at this stage of life,” she said. “I would strongly encourage anyone at any stage of life to try a new interest or hobby. They are bound to learn something, and if they don’t like it, they can always try something else.”

Pat Hurt of Fine Linen Ministries spent 10 months writing her first book over 20 years ago. Baptized at age 27, the stories of her life suddenly took on new meaning, and she felt inspired to write them down. She tried to have it published, but after she received her second rejection letter, she felt God was telling her to “let it keep.” In 2010, Hurt got an out-of-state job as a caregiver, which allowed her the time and resources to finish the book. She spent a year editing and adding to the original manuscript. Finally, “A Ransom for Righteousness: Paying the Price” was published by Xulon Press in July 2011 and is available Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the publisher. In addition to her career as an author, Hurt has another creative specialty: She has been a professional seamstress since 1986 and has worked for four Miss Louisiana titleholders. Twice, she has traveled to the Miss America pageant. Hurt says that not only are her fellow seniors not too old to pursue their artistic interests, they may, in fact, be the perfect age to do such a thing. “You’re never, ever, ever too old for anything God calls you to do,” she said. “Look at the Bible characters. Moses was 80 years old when he led the children of Israel! As long as there is breath in us, we’re never too old. It takes life’s experiences to prepare us for our calling in life.”

A L A

s a Professor of Microbiology at LSU School of Medicine, Dr. Harry Gilleland didn’t have many opportunities to flex his creative writing muscles. “In science, you can’t say anything that’s not documented or you can’t prove,” he explained. He developed a fondness for Poe and Tennyson in high school and college, but his scientific and career goals soon sublimated his interest in poets. A few years before he retired in 2004, he decided to try writing his own poetry, and, he said, “It was like the shackles fell off and I thought, ‘I can say anything I want!’” Since then, Gilleland has written almost 400 poems, most of which are what he terms “storoems,” or story poems, and published six books of poetry. Additionally, he has won quite a bit of money entering his poems in contests. “I made more in one contest than I did with all my book sales combined,” he said. But writing has benefitted him in more important ways than monetarily. “It keeps your mind agile, and it keeps you engaged in life,” he said. He is active on Web sites, where he critiques work for other poets, and he is an editor in the publishing industry.

March 2012

ee Marvin Adams has taken his writing in an entirely different direction. Though he has been a writer for most of his life, the demands of his career in the U.S. Air Force made it necessary for him to put writing on hold for several years. “When I resumed writing, it was mostly in response to the demands of college courses I enrolled in at age 40 to complete a bachelors degree,” he said. “It was then that I rediscovered my love for writing. This time, however, it manifested itself in a different way.” While Adams previously wrote short stories and free-verse www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Unleash Your poetry, he decided to try his hand at comedy writing. He was so successful at it that his writing manifested itself in a career as a stand up comedian, which has taken him to more than 30 countries around the globe, including three trips to Iraq, one to Afghanistan and one to Africa with Armed Forces Entertainment and the military’s Morale, Welfare & Recreation units to entertain American troops serving overseas. His motto is “Comedy With Class,” which refers to his commitment to deliver “clean, clever, intellectually hilarious comedy without concerns about edgy or offensive language or subject matter,” he said. “I do every comedy performance as if my mother is sitting in the audience, because someone’s mother is.” Adams said his age is not a hindrance but a help to his writing and comedy career. “Having age and maturity on my side made me less idealistic and more realistic,” he said. “It also allowed me to quickly realize as a performer that the show isn’t about me. It is about making the audience member feel good about the time and money spent allowing me to be part of their evening. Age and maturity made me realize that as comedian there might be things that are personally funny to me but are not appropriate for a performance, making it always wise to err on the side of caution. Age also made me approach my opportunities more seriously, knowing that theoretically, I have less time to accomplish my goals.”

S S

pend a few minutes tooling around on the Internet and you’re bound to see how popular crafting has become. In fact, craft blogs, which often feature photo how-tos and video tutorials, are among the most popular Web sites, receiving hundreds of thousands of hits per week. Pinterest.com, an addictive new social networking site that bills itself as a “virtual pinboard,” is a veritable wellspring of craft ideas from scrapbooking and glass etching to cooking and knitting.

n the last several years, knitting has enjoyed a revival and is now one of the country’s most popular past times. Its appeal is uncommonly universal – one is just as likely to find a 13-year-old girl as an 80-year-old woman toting a pair

Creativity

of knitting needles in her bag. Knitting has even become edgy. Within the last 10 years, a movement known as knitting graffiti or yarn bombing, the use of knitted or crocheted cloth to modify and beautify one’s surroundings, usually outdoors, originated in the U.S. and spread worldwide. A local group called “Chicks With Sticks” meet at various branches of the Shreve Memorial Library around Shreveport. They encourage both experienced veterans and eager amateurs to join them. For more information about meeting times and places, visit chicks-w-sticks.blogspot.com, email chicks-wsticks@hotmail.com or find them on Facebook under “Chicks With Sticks – Shreveport.”

I I

n fact, it’s becoming easier to do just about anything on the Internet, including learning an instrument. While some like to study with a local instructor, still others prefer to tune up in the privacy of their own homes according to their own schedules. Best of all, many of the resources available online are free. Sites like YouTube are increasingly popular places for musicians – both professionals and experienced amateurs – to market themselves by sharing their skills. You can be the beneficiary of this promotional largesse simply by searching for your musical topic of interest. Video Tabs (videotabs.com) finds instructional videos specifically for the guitar and posts them to their site. “Beginning Guitar 101,” a free instructional video from iVideosongs, is the second most popular podcast on iTunes, where there are six instructional videos that you can download for free. There are more instructional videos available on their site, www.songmaster.com, for $5 to $10. So if you’ve always wanted to learn to play Rachmaninoff or paint a masterpiece or write your memoirs, then, in the parlance of Nike, just do it. These local artists are living – and thriving – proof that potential doesn’t belong exclusively to the young.

any stage of life new interest hobby learn

I would strongly encourage anyone at to try a

are bound to

. They

something, and if they don’t

like it, they can always try something else.

The Best Of Times

March 2012

Family Features

Tips for Saving Money on Taxes

ho isn’t looking to save a little money these days? Here are some easy ways you can save money on preparing your taxes, as well as ways you might be able to pay out a little less.

IRS Free File: More Savings, Less Taxing

Looking for a fast, easy and free option to do your taxes? IRS Free File allows everyone to prepare and e-file their federal tax returns for free. And, the step-by-step, brand-name software offered by IRS’ commercial partners helps you find the tax breaks you are due. Each of the approximately 20 private-sector partners tailor their offerings based on criteria such as income, age or state resi-

Did You Know?

Because of a holiday, the 2012 tax deadline is April 17. Everyone can do their taxes for free with IRS Free File. n Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is for working families, yet 20 percent overlook it. n Eighty percent of taxpayers get a refund. n n

March 2012

dency. If you need help finding a Free File match, just select the “get help finding a Free File company” as your option. Simply enter a little information about yourself and the matches will appear. Some also offer state returns for free or for a fee. n While all the companies have different criteria, if you made $57,000 or less in 2011 - and that’s 70 percent of us - you will be eligible for at least one free tax software program. n If your income was higher than $57,000, you can still prepare and e-file your return for free by using Free File Fillable Forms. This is the electronic version of IRS paper forms. It’s more basic and is probably best for people comfortable preparing their own paper tax returns. It does not support state tax returns. Just go to www.irs.gov/freefile to get started.

IRS2GO is a new smartphone app that lets you track your refund. n No phone? Visit “Where’s My Refund?” at www.irs.gov. n The official website, www.irs.gov, has a new look, and the latest info. n

www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Organize Records

The IRS recommends keeping all tax-related documents for three years, in case of an audit. Keeping track of income-related documents can help you take full advantage of deductions available to you. If you don’t have the information, you might be losing out on money. What should you have handy when it’s time to fill out this year’s returns? Records such as: n A copy of last year’s tax return n Valid Social Security numbers for yourself, spouse and children n All income statements, i.e. W-2 forms, from all employers n Interest/dividend statements, i.e. 1099 forms n Form 1099-G showing any state refunds n Unemployment compensation amount n Social Security benefits n Expense receipts for deductions n Day care provider’s identifying number

Find Out if You are Eligible for the EITC

No tax benefit offers a greater lifeline to working families than EITC. Yet, one out of every five eligible taxpayers fails to claim it, according to the IRS. Because of the economy, even more people may be eligible if they have had changes in their earned income. Here are a few things to keep in mind: n The amount of qualifying income depends on your situation. For example, married workers, who earned $49,078 or less from wages,

The Best Of Times

self-employment or farm income last year, are filing jointly, and have two qualifying children, could be eligible. The maximum credit for 2011 tax returns is $5,751 for workers with three or more qualifying children. n Eligibility for the EITC is determined based on a number of factors including earnings, filing status and eligible children. Workers without qualifying children may be eligible for a smaller credit amount. n You must file a tax return, even if you do not have a filing requirement, and specifically claim the credit. Those who typically fail to claim the EITC include rural workers and their families; non-traditional families, such as grandparents or foster parents raising children; taxpayers without qualifying children; individuals with limited English proficiency; and taxpayers with disabilities. n If you claim EITC, it can be complex so try to avoid the common errors such as mistakes on income amounts, filing head of household when you should file as married, or claiming children who have not lived with you for more than half the year. n If you use a paid tax return preparer, make sure to seek out a reputable one. Tax professionals must sign returns they prepare and use their Preparer Tax Identification Numbers. To learn more about EITC, go to www.irs.gov/eitc and use the EITC Assistant, or ask your tax professional. All EITC claimants are eligible for free tax help from the 12,000 volunteer sites nationwide or to use Free File at www.irs.gov/freefile.

EITC Rules: Are You Eligible?

n Your adjusted gross income cannot be more than the limit. n You must have a valid Social Security number. n Your filing status cannot be “Married filing separately.” n You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year. n You cannot file Form 2555 or Form 2555-EZ. n Your investment income must be $3,150 or less. n You must have earned income.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

If you need personal assistance to prepare your tax return, there are 12,000 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites nationwide. These sites offer free help to those earning around $50,000 or less. To locate the nearest VITA site, search for “VITA” on IRS.gov. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), which is supported by AARP, offers free tax help to people who are age 60 and older. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-2277669 or visit AARP.org.

March 2012

Crook piloted a B-24 “Liberator” like the one pictured here. (U.S. Air Force photo)

’

a bird’s eye view of history by Mary Flanders

hat do the late actor Jimmy Stewart, former Senator George McGovern, television’s “Mr. Wizard” and Shreveport resident Frank Crook have in common? They all piloted B-24 Liberator bombers during missions in World War II. A member of the Greatest Generation, Shreveport resident Frank Crook served his country in the Air Force for 31 years and then retired here in 1973. His adventures begin in Central Texas where he was born, but his military career began on a day the world will never forget - December 7, 1941- the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Eleven days later in Waco, Texas, Baylor sophomore Frank Crook turned 20,

March 2012

and was determined to enlist in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program. He reported to the San Antonio Aviation Center on August 8th 1942 for training, but little did he know what the future held for him. As he explains, the board looked at each candidate and said simply to one, “you’re going to be a pilot,” to the next, “you’re going to be a bombardier,” and to the next, “you’re going to be a navigator.” Obviously the Board was an astute judge of character and recognized the qualities of an outstanding aviator. 2nd Lt. Frank Crook was commissioned in the United States Army Air Corps and graduated as a pilot on April 22, 1943. As he says, “being a pilot was a nice career for a farm boy.” After training as a first pilot on the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber he and his crew left the United States two years to the day on December 7, 1943 for Casablanca and traveled on to Italy to enter the war with the 15th Air force 98th Bomb Group, 343rd Bomb Squadron in Lecce, Italy. In twist of fate, and one that must have been difficult for his mother to cope with, Frank and his two brothers were all in the military at the same time, all overseas at the same time and all in combat at the same time. As a member of the 8th Air Force, 446th Bomb group, 707th Bomb Squadron he flew many missions. He had a bird’s eye view of one of the most important invasions in the history of the modern world on June 6, 1944 – D Day. The 446th led the entire 8th Air Force. His group commander, Col. Jacob J. Brogger, was the airborne commander of the entire mission. Fast forward to June 20, 1944. It’s almost bed time. First Lt. www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Frank Crook and his crew of the 446 Bomb Group, 707th Bomb all the way back to England – a difficult assignment for an experienced and older officer. First Lieutenant Crook was all of 22. Squadron were about to fly their last combat mission of WWII. Captain Crook left the Air Force in 1947 and returned to The crew knows they’re on tomorrow’s flying schedule; they know Capt. Harvey Ekrem is leading the entire bomb group and Baylor to finish his college degree. There he met his wife Joyce and they married September 3, 1949. In 1951 he was recalled they know they’re flying on his right wing as group deputy lead. and went back to serve in the United States Air Force with the They know they’re one of 36 four engine heavy bombers. As Mr. rank of Major. Major Crook served as an instructor in the T-33 Crook says, “When you’re flying your last mission, you want it pilot training program and went to Bangkok in 1955. When he to be a short, easy one, say to France. Not a deep penetration into Germany.” But their luck didn’t hold. The rest of the group returned to the US he served in the Strategic Air Command – SAC - as a B-47 Stratofortress pilot for eight years at Little Rock won’t know what the target is until the next morning, but as Air Force Base. one of the two crews leading the entire mission, they receive the As his career continued, he teletype from General Doolittle’s served at Barksdale among other headquarters regarding their misbases and liked it here. After 3 sion tomorrow. Their target is the years in Wiesbaden Germany, Daimler-Benz Motor Works near Frank and his wife Joyce retired Berlin –a long and dangerous to Shreveport in 1973. mission. Frank and Joyce attend First The mission is carried out but Baptist Church in Shreveport the bomb group suffered modregularly. Frank have served in erate battle damage. After the the past on the board of direcbombs were dropped and they tors, he played tennis and still had turned for home, Captain plays bridge three or four times a Ekrem radioed to report engine week. When asked his secret to a problems and had to leave the long and happy life he smiles and formation. He instructed First simply says, “The Lord has been Lt. Frank Crook to lead all of the good to me.” remaining bombers from Berlin Frank with his wife Joyce.

Have you made prearrangements for your family, or do you still have that to do? Leaving these decisions to your children on the worst day of their lives is a terrible emotional burden.

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March 2012

➺Where's the Life Laws of the Land

Insurance Policy? by Lee Aronson

lthough he ate like a cave man and his blood pressure was through the roof, Fred Flintstone (not his real name) lived to the ripe old age of 89. After his death, Pebbles, his daughter, wasn’t surprised to find that Fred’s recordkeeping wasn’t exactly organized. And that’s putting it mildly. But she knew that her father had two life insurance policies. He had mentioned them several times during his life, explaining that he wanted those policies to be his final gift to his daughter. But Pebbles couldn’t find the policies after her father had died. She didn’t know how much the policies were worth or which company the policies were with. As a result, she didn’t have any idea where to start trying to find answers. And Pebbles isn’t alone. According to an article I recently read in the Wall Street Journal, state regulators estimate that about “one

billion dollars is sitting on life insurer’s books and owed as death benefits, some of it languishing there for decades.” That’s why I’m glad to report that the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner has decided to do something to help people track down old life insurance policies. First of all, the Commissioner suggests the following avenues of investigation: “the former employer of the deceased may have information on group life insur-

ance. Financial institutions such as banks and credit unions sometimes offer term insurance to their patrons. Personal papers such as checks written in payment of life insurance premiums may yield leads to insurance polices. Fraternal organizations, associations, professional membership groups, unions and other such entities may make life insurance available to their members.” But to make matters even better, the Commissioner has gone even further and is offering a free service to help find missing life insurance policies. If an immediate family member of a deceased person fills out a simple one page form asking for information about life insurance policies, the Commissioner will send the family member’s search request to “all life insurers which have polices in force in Louisiana.” When the family member submits the form to the Insurance Commissioner, a copy of the deceased person’s death certificate will also need to be submitted. A national company called MIB Group Inc. offers a similar service, but it charges $75. Its advantage over the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner’s service (which

Giving the Human Touch The hours James Nix spends with his grandchildren are perhaps his most cherished time. After all, he almost never got the chance to even see his grandchildren. Back in 1981, while working for the electric company, James came in contact with some high voltage that left him seriously injured and burned. Both of his arms were amputated as a result, but with strong determination James has been able to overcome new challenges one day at a time. “It all just depends on you and your positive attitude about things,” explains Nix. “When somebody tells you that you can’t do something, prove them wrong!” That same kind of determination drives our practitioners and technicians to keep improving the devices we fit and fabricate. We want to make life a little easier for those we serve. But we also believe that while biomechanics, technology, and mathematical precision play a large part in the services we provide, the true heart of our work is based on the human touch rather than the scientific one.

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March 2012

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is free) is that the Commissioner’s service “cannot be used to search for policies which were not purchased in Louisiana” while MIB searches records throughout the country. When it comes to life insurance, the question I get asked the most is not about finding missing policies. It’s this: Can a stranger take out a life insurance policy on me without my permission? And for most people, the answer is no. However, a close relative can take out life insurance on you without your consent. And if you owe money to someone, regardless of whether you are related to them, that person can probably take out a life insurance policy on you. But even if they do, you won’t have to pay any of the premiums. But you will also have no say as to who will get the benefit once you die.

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Can a stranger take out a life insurance policy on me without my permission? So let’s say that my sister tries to take out a life insurance policy on me without my knowledge or my permission. Some life insurance companies will have no problem with that. But others will not be willing to issue a policy unless I have a medical exam. Assume that the company that my sister is working with won’t issue a policy on me unless I have a medical exam. Do you think my sister has the right to force me to take a medical exam so she can take out life insurance on me? No, of course not. Nor can the insurance company my sister is working with force me to take the exam. The question I wished I got asked more often is about whether a person should buy a particular life insurance policy. Some life insurance policies are very good deals. Others are horrible deals. And depending on your circumstances, what might be a good life insurance policy for you could be a bad policy for someone else. Lee Aronson is an attorney with Legal Services of North Louisiana. His practice areas include consumer protection law, housing law, & health care law. The Best Of Times

March 2012

➺Soothe

Dear Pharmacist

Stress with Supplements by Suzy Cohen, RPH

Dear Pharmacist, You’ve said that stress causes higher levels of the hormone cortisol and that causes weight gain and disease. I have lost my home and dealing with the emotional fall out and the anguish of scaling down and moving. How can I control cortisol as I deal with this grief? My good health is all I have left. --M.L., Palm Beach, Florida

Sorry about your loss. Cortisol is produced by your adrenal glands and helps regulate the speed at which you turn food into fuel, and hence your blood sugar

March 2012

levels; it supports immune function and bone health. It’s not a bad guy unless it gets too high, or flat-lines after prolonged periods of stress. Stress is by far the number one reason that cortisol levels become elevated. Excessive amounts cause you to hold weight in your mid-section (think belly fat). High cortisol means more infections and higher incidence of hypertension, osteoporosis (brittle bones), reflux, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and stroke. Stress can make you terribly sick by upping your cortisol hormone. Conventional medicine’s answer is usually a benzodiazepine-type of tranquilizer such as Xanax, Valium or Ativan which provides a quick fix. Supplements help you with the stress response better because they don’t cause addiction, and they can lower cortisol unlike drugs. Reducing cortisol is good for your waist line. Even if you can’t eliminate

stress, and have to go through it, you can still improve your body’s response to the stress. This is important. Make the word “adaptogen” your best friend because adaptogenic herbs are your best solution to stress. Four of my favorite are ashwa-

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gandha, ginseng, rhodiola and gotu kola. Well-designed scientific studies have revealed undeniable stress-relieving qualities. You should not need all four, just pick one to try based on it’s other properties and potential side effects. Ask your doctor if it’s right for you before buying them at the health food store. Google these herbs to learn about them. It’s okay to switch them out every few months. Adaptogens often take a few weeks to begin working. Ashwagandha improves endurance, provides instant calm, fights fatigue, reduces inflammation and enhances sex drive. Panax ginseng also enhances sex drive, while improving energy levels, mental focus and well-being. Rhodiola, which thrives in freezing cold Siberia, improves stamina, cognitive function, melancholy and ability to cope. Gotu kola herb offers a mild, relaxing sense of virtual euphoria. Take Gota kola when you need it to kick back and relax, the way you might enjoy a glass of wine. Speaking of alcohol, this may be an effective stress-reducer but it’s going to make a mess of your cortisol over time. I’d prefer you drink green tea, in most people that provides instant calm. Treat yourself to massage. In 2005 University of Miami researchers reviewed some scientific studies and found that a single massage can reduce cortisol levels by an amazing 31 percent! Yoga is another way to find peace and calm. More meditation means less medication. This information is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose your condition. For more info visit www.DearPharmacist. com. ©2012Suzy Cohen, R.Ph. Distributed by Dear Pharmacist, Inc.

The Best Of Times

March 2012

➺

From the Bench

Be Careful What You Communicate ecuted for communications they have typed or posted on Facebook. Under Louisiana Revised Statute Article 14:40.3, Cyberstalking is made a crime by our Louisiana Legislature. The statute reads as follows:

by Judge Jeff Cox have been reading with great excitement the news about Facebook. Facebook is a communication program that hundreds of thousands of people a year use to communicate events in their life and their family’s lives, share pictures with their friends, and communicate news and information regarding their life or business. Facebook has been a hugely successful communication outlet that has revolutionized the way people communicate with one another. However, Facebook has also been a means where people have been arrested and pros-

March 2012

A. For the purposes of this Section, the following words shall have the following meanings: (1) “Electronic communication” means any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature, transmitted in whole or part by wire, radio, computer… (2) “Electronic mail” means the transmission of information or communication by the use of Internet, a computer, a facsimile machine, a pager, a cellular telephone, …or other electronic means sent to a person identified by a unique address or address number and received by that person. B. Cyberstalking is action of any person to accomplish any of the following: (1) Use in electronic mail or electronic communication of any words or language threatening to inflict bodily harm to any person or to such person’s child, sibling, spouse, or dependent, or physical property of any person, or for the purpose of

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extorting money or other things of value from any person. (2) Electronically mail or electronically communicate to another repeatedly, whether or not conversation ensues, for the purpose of threatening, terrifying, or harassing any person. (3) Electronically mail or electronically communicate to another and to knowingly make any false statement concerning death, injury, illness, disfigurement, indecent conduct, or criminal conduct of the person electronically mailed or of any member of the person’s family or household with the intent to threaten, terrify, or harass. (4) Knowingly permit an electronic communication device under the person’s control to be used for the taking of an action in Paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this Subsection. Cyberstalking carries up to a one year jail sentence on the first conviction and longer terms on any subsequent convictions. In addition, hefty fines starting at $2000 shall be imposed and these fines increase with each conviction. Additionally, the computer or property on which the crime occurred is to be seized by the court and sold according to the statute if the person is convicted. Facebook is a wonderful communication tool for those that use it properly. However, as you can see, if you communicate in the wrong manner, you can be held criminally responsible. Remember, what you type or post on Facebook is out there for the whole world to see and read.

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March 2012

Elder Law Attorneys – Joseph

Weems, Schimpf, Gilsoul, Haine

Question: Do you have specific needs and are looking for help? • Developing a specialized estate plan to protect your heirs • Protecting your child with special needs • Protecting a vulnerable loved one from financial predators • Protecting your assets from devastating long-term care costs • Obtaining Medicaid benefits without going broke • Obtaining Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits of up to $2019 per month for care at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home • Appealing the denial of Social Security disability benefits • Developing a Life Care plan to coordinate long-term care • Protecting your inheritances or law suit settlements • Handling the succession of a deceased family member

Answer: Joe and Kyle will help you design a plan to meet your specific needs.

Joseph R. Gilsoul

Kyle A. Moore

Call today to schedule an appointment at 318-222-2100 ($300 for initial consultation fee)

Weems, Schimpf, Gilsoul, Haines, Landry & Carmouche, APLC 912 Kings Highway • Shreveport, LA 71104 www.weems-law.com

March 2012

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h R. Gilsoul & Kyle A. Moore

es, Landry & Carmouche (APLC)

We Assist the Elderly with Life’s Transitions As we age, we find that coping with life’s many transitions often gets harder and harder. There are so many legal and practical matters to deal with, it can be overwhelming. Even if you are lucky enough to have a son or daughter nearby to assist, the maze of forms, benefit programs, care options, and monitoring, as well as planning to preserve your hard-earned assets, is often impossible for you and your family to cope with without expert help. We recognize that estate planning goes well beyond signing wills and drafting legal documents. Your condition may constantly change – whether it be your health, your ability to make decisions, your finances, or your family situation.

Yes, we can assist you! Please contact us at

(318) 222-2100 Estate planning Long-term care planning Medicaid/veterans benefits Social Security disability benefits Successions Call us at (318) 222-2100 or contact us by completing and mailing this form. Name: ____________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________ City: ____________________________ Phone: ____________________________

State: __________

Zip Code: _________________

Email: ______________________________________

___ Yes, please contact me about your upcoming FREE seminars. Specify your legal needs or concerns: ___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Mail form to: Elder Law Attorneys – Joseph Gilsoul and Kyle Moore 912 Kings Highway • Shreveport, LA 71104 The Best Of Times

March 2012

➺Tax Strategies in Money Matters

a Tough Economy

By Jason Alderman or most of us, income tax calculations don't change much from year to year. But thanks to the roller coaster economy of the past few years, many people have undergone major life changes that can have a significant impact – good or bad – on their taxable income and how they should file taxes. Even though April 17 (this year's tax-filing deadline) is a ways off, it's never too soon to start planning your strategy, particularly if you experienced financial hardships in 2011 that could affect your taxes. The IRS has a handy guide called "The What Ifs of an Economic Downturn" (search www.irs.gov) that reviews the tax impacts of different scenarios such as job loss, debt forgiveness or tapping a retirement fund. Here's a roundup of common economic challenges you may be facing and

March 2012

their possible tax implications:

You lost your job. Remember that unemployment benefits, severance pay and payout of accumulated vacation or sick leave are all considered taxable income, so if you didn't have taxes withheld from these payments, be prepared for a potentially nasty tax bill. If you withdrew money from your regular IRA or 401(k) account to cover expenses, you'll owe income tax on the amount, plus an additional 10 percent penalty unless you're over age 59 ½ or meet special circumstances. Also, outstanding 401(k) loans must be repaid (usually within 60 to 90 days of termination) or they'll be counted taxable income – plus be subject to the same 10 percent penalty. The good news is that many public assistance benefits such as welfare, food stamps and disaster relief payments don't count toward taxable income. Read the IRS's "Tax Impact of Job Loss" for details (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4128.pdf ). Lowered income. If you took a big pay cut or lost your job in 2011, it

might lower your adjusted gross income (AGI) enough to qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a "refundable" tax credit, which means that if you owe less in income tax than your eligible credit, you'll not only pay no tax,

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but actually get a refund for the difference. To learn more, search EITC at www.irs.gov.

Forgiven debt. Many people don't realize that when you

borrow money from a bank or other commercial lender and the lender "forgives" the debt, you generally must count the forgiven amount as taxable income. There are several exceptions to the rule, however: For example, the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally allows taxpayers to exclude up to $2 million in forgiven mortgage debt ($1 million if married filing separately) on their principal residence if it came through mortgage restructuring, foreclosure or a short sale. The mortgage exclusion is set to expire at the end of 2012 unless Congress intervenes. Other exceptions include: Debts discharged through bankruptcy; or, if you are insolvent when the debt is cancelled, some or all of it may not be taxable. (Insolvency means your total debts are greater than the fair market value of your total assets.) For more information, search for Mortgage Debt Forgiveness at www.irs.gov. Taxes are the last thing you want to worry about when facing financial hardships. Just be sure you're prepared for the possible tax implications if your income or debt situation has changed in the past year. Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney

Fun, Friends, and Fitness “An award winning beginner tennis program sponsored by the Northwest Louisiana Community Tennis Association”

Spring 2012

This tennis program is a great opportunity to be introduced to tennis or to get back into the game. You will receive two hours of instruction at six sites across the area from outstanding teachers for only $25. All sessions will run from 10 am to 12 noon on March 17, March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14, and April 21. Tennis rackets will be available for use during each session, so you don’t need to bring a racket. We do suggest comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. Come join the fun!

For more information and to register for this program, visit www.nwlacta.com or email to vcquarles@caddo.k12.la.us or call (318) 560-8128.

Information and Referral

Hearing Aids

 Advocacy

 American Sign Language Interpreting

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March 2012

➺Exercising

Moving Free

For Diabetes: Good Fat Burns Calories by Mirabai Holland

ince March is Diabetes Month I wanted you to know about a recent discovery that is poised to be real game changer. We all know inactivity and excess body fat are risk factors for Diabetes. But did you know you have two kinds of fat, bad and good, white and brown? White fat just sits there and is, well, just fat. It’s the bad fat. It puts you at higher risk for diseases like diabetes. Brown fat on the other hand, doesn’t just sit there. It’s metabolically active. It burns calories, lots of calories. It’s the good fat. (Yes, there is such a thing as

March 2012

good fat.) And exercise can turn white fat brown! A recent study* by the DanaFarber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School shows that exercise produces a hormone called Irisin that turns white fat brown. This may be a reason people who exercise regularly burn more calories, even hours after exercising, than sedentary people. Doesn’t that make you want to get up, make some irisin, turn that white fat brown and burn a bunch of calories?

Well if that’s not enough here’s something else. Exercise helps regulate blood glucose levels. It helps get excess glucose out of the blood and into the muscle tissue where it’s burned as fuel. It really works. In fact many diabetics who exercise regularly find they need to take a lot less insulin. Some have even been able to eliminate their need for insulin with daily exercise. So between the calorie-burning brown fat, and the sugar-sucking effect on muscle tissue, I’d say exercise is a no-brainer for those of us at risk for diabetes. Mirabai Holland M.F.A. Legendary Fitness Pioneer is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fitness industry, and public health activist who specializes in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for women. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work. www. easyexercisevideos. com

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ANSWERS FROM THE EXPERTS Will Medicare cover my mother’s care in a nursing home? While Medicare does not pay room & board fees for one actually “living” in a nursing home, there are portions of nursing home care that are covered. Medicare covers 100 days of skilled nursing care when the doctor feels that either nursing or rehabilitation services for Medicare Part A insured persons are needed following a recent hospitalization of 3 or more days. Additionally, Medicare Parts B & D may pay for your mother’s medications and physical, speech or occupational therapies ordered by a physician while she is in a nursing home. Depending upon the financial situation, nursing home Vicki Ott room & board is NurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center generally paid by 1736 Irving Place the individual, Shreveport, LA 71101 Medicaid, or (318) 221-1983 Long Term Care See our ad on page 9. Insurance. I have heard of a new lens implant for cataract surgery that will eliminate glasses. Does Medicare pay for it? This is an exciting time to have cataracts. There is a new Multifocal Lens Implant called Restor that allows a wide range of vision without glasses. 80% of patients who have received the lens never have to use glasses, ever! Medicare and/or insurance covers part of the lens and surgery, the rest will have to be paid out of pocket. If you think you have cataracts Chris Shelby, MD and would like Pierremont Eye Institute to learn more 7607 Youree Dr. about the Restor Shreveport, LA 71105 Lens, call us at 318-212-3937; 212-3937. www.ShelbyEye.com What are the symptoms and treatment of torn cartilage? Meniscus tears are the most common surgical condition involving the knee. Medial meniscus (inside) tears are 3 - 4 times more common than lateral tears (outside). The meniscus support 50% of the body weight with the knee extended and 90% with the knee flexed 90°. Because the meniscus supports body weight every attempt should be made to repair or maintain as much meniscus tissue as possible. Popping, giving way, locking, tenderness at the joint line, stiffness, and swelling are some of the signs/symptoms of cartilage tears. Arthroscopic John J. Ferrell, M.D. surgery is generMid South Orthopaedics ally done on an 7925 Youree Drive; outpatient basis Suite 210 Shreveport, LA 71105 and recovery is (318) 424-3400 from a few days to a weeks. The Best Of Times

March 2012

Story by Andrea Gross www.andreagross.com

find a patch of green and begin to unpack our picnic basket. “Wine?” asks my husband. I nod happily. I’m surrounded by wildflowers, fixed with food and wine, and within shouting distance of places waiting to be explored. I’m hard put to think of a nicer way to spend the day. Now we’ve found a way to have not one, but two spring breaks. First we go to the Hill Country of central Texas, where spring begins early. Later we explore the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia, where flowers don’t reach their peak ‘til May or June.

Bluebonnets cover the hills near Fredericksburg, peaking in mid-April. Credit: Al Rendon

Texas Hill Country

It’s mid-April in Fredericksburg, and the bluebonnets are in full bloom. Friends point us to Willow City Loop, 15 miles to the northeast, and soon we’re on a winding road that takes us over cliffs, through meadows and across bridges. We drive slowly, admiring the scenic glory, in no hurry to get back to town.

March 2012

Afterwards, because we’re in splurge mode and can’t resist, we pick up a pie from Tootie Pie Company Gourmet Café, recognized by Yahoo Travel as one of the top ten pie shops in America. Exercising zero self-control, we eat the pie on the spot, then buy another for our picnic basket. After all, this is a vacation, right? The next morning we wander through the downtown area, which is quietly becomFredericksburg has a vital downtown filled with specialty ing one of the country’s leading stores of all kinds. Credit: Irv Green art centers. Collectors often arrive in private planes to visit But we need to prepare for our picnic, galleries like Whistle Pik, where they can which is scheduled for the following day. acquire paintings and sculptures by nationFredericksburg is at the center of the Texas ally acclaimed artists. Nearby, Artisans at Hill Country Viticultural Area, a 15,000 Rocky Hill showcases outstanding work by square mile area that is the second most top regional craftsmen and women, while visited wine region in the United States, The Grasshopper and Wild Honey features topped only by Napa. Therefore we head out along Highway an eclectic collection of local handicrafts 290, locally known as “Wine Road 290,” and European imports. Finally we stop in Rustlin’ Rob’s Texas which bisects the town. Gourmet Foods, where we indulge in a Here the land resembles the grapesampling of sauces and dips. We end up growing regions of Italy and southern with a packet of Rattlesnake Dust (a mix of France, leading Brian Heath, owner of herbs, garlic and exotic peppers) and a jar Grape Creek Vineyards, to refer to the area of Texas Hot Wild Fire Pickles. We put the as “Tuscany in Texas.” We go into a tasting Dust in our suitcase but as for the pickles… room that is styled like an Italian villa with they go into the picnic basket. heavy timbers and a tile roof and sample their award-winning wines, finally settling on a bottle of Pinot Grigio for $16.95.

www.VisitFredericksburgTX.com www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Mountains form a perfect backdrop to a picnic in the hills near Roanoke. Credit: Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

A month later we’re in Roanoke. Here, near the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and just south of Shenandoah Valley, flowers begin blooming in April and color the hills through October. First come the delicate wildflowers; later, the flame azaleas and rhododendrons. The city, which is already the cultural and business hub of southwestern Virginia,

is cementing its reputation as the northern terminus of the Parkway, offering visitors an experience similar to that of Asheville, 250 miles to the south. To that end, the revitalized downtown has become a regional art center, filled with markets and galleries. We poke in the shops and then, to prepare for our picnic, we hit the wine trail. Wine has been produced in Virginia since the Europeans settled the region in

the 1600s, and Wine Enthusiast Magazine has named Virginia one of 2012’s ten best travel destinations in the world. (The two other U.S wine regions that made the list are in California.) We visit Virginia Mountain Vineyards and Fincastle Vineyard & Winery, where we taste-test their Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. Delicious. Then, on a whim, we drive through orchards and down a country road to Peaks of Otter Winery & Orchard in nearby Bedford. There the atmosphere is more homespun, and we’re offered samples of wines labeled Blackberry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie and Blueberry Muffin, which, we’re told, was Mark Twain’s favorite. These make me feel virtuous. I’m not really drinking; I’m just imbibing my grandmother’s home cooking. We buy a bottle of each and set off to find the perfect picnic spot.

www.visitroanokeva.com www.blueridgeparkway.org

answering. aiding. guiding. Anyone eligible for Medicare (65+ or disabled) should know about the senior Health insurance information Program (sHiiP). SHIIP offers free and confidential help with Medicare and other health insurance. Our counselors work through local organizations and can help answer your questions.

Volunteer today! 1-800-259-5301 www.ldi.la.gov The Best Of Times

March 2012

BROADWAY: A Personal Perspective

by Brian Bradley inter doldrums set in on Broadway after the holiday season. This is typical. There are usually few openings. This year no openings were scheduled for February and only one commercial production opened in January. January is also a time when shows that have been struggling give up the ghost. On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Chinglish and Relatively Speaking all closed on January 29th. But a new Porgy and Bess did make its debut. And two of our not-for-profit theatres opened their mid-season productions. The Roundabout Theatre Company is offering a frustrating production of the 1984 drama The Road to Mecca. The Manhattan Theatre Company a riveting revival of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize winner Wit. Porgy and Bess, one of the great masterpieces of the American Photo by Joan Marcus

theatre, has been revisited in a radically altered production. The director Diane Paulus along with Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre L. Murray who adapted the libretto and score have attempted to make George Gershwin’s folk opera, so revolutionary in 1935, more accessible for a contemporary audience. What? Do they mean acceptable? For whom I would query. What they’ve done is take the grand out of grand opera. What they have not done is create a theatre piece comparable to the original. An opera score is as complex as a symphony. Cutting and editing can be delicate. Change one thing and affect ten more. For example, when they interrupt “Gone, Gone, Gone” (the ensemble component of the funeral sequence) with a book scene, they also kill the momentum running up to the aria “My Man’s Gone Now”. The whole show feels choppy. It doesn’t flow musically or directorially and except for the costumes is not particularly well designed. Audra McDonald, for whom this production was mounted, we gather, is an exceptional Bess, but with her operatic vocals, she can not be understood. Accessible? Norm Lewis is an inconsistent Porgy, but solid on “Bess, You Is My Woman Now.” And David Alan Grier’s "Sporting Life" is absolute perfection. “I’m scared.” Cynthia Nixon’s reading of that line from Wit is so exposed, so vulnerable and so truthful that copious tears began to flow. That agonizing anguished moment was so heartbreaking, it would seem impossible to be anything other than fully invested. Wit is Margaret Edson’s marvelously compact one-act depiction of a woman dying of stage IV metastatic ovarian cancer. Cynthia Nixon anchors this unevenly acted revival as the de-

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March 2012

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manding English Literature professor Dr. Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., a middle-aged spinster with rigorous teaching methods and an affinity for John Donne’s Holy Sonnets, Death Be Not Proud in particular. Miss Nixon’s performance is as masterful with the wit and irony in Vivian’s observational humor as it is with her rapid deterioration the result of a radical experimental treatment. Absolutely not to be missed! Except as an excuse to see the marvelous Rosemary Harris on stage, there has been some debate about the Roundabout’s selection of The Road to Mecca for a main stage slot. This static drama about a reclusive, ostracized artist, her friend who has driven 800 miles on dusty roads to support her in crisis and a minister with an agenda received its definitive production back in 1988. That awardwinning Off-Broadway mounting starred a South African actress, Amy Irving and the playwright (Athol Fugard) who also directed. But even then Frank Rich, writing for the New York Times, observed in a mostly favorable review Act One’s expository dialogue was “a question-and-answer session for the audience’s benefit rather than a credible conversation between two loving friends.” Athol Fugard was

a renowned South African playwright whose works, with the exception of Mecca, dealt with apartheid. With the political component now resolved, most of his plays are dated. Mecca however deals with artistic freedom of expression and the risk an artist takes in expressing their truth through their art. So the solitary sculptor in Mecca could be a stand-in for the author. But the long, tedious first act requires two remarkable actors and carefully considered direction to keep an audience engaged. In 1988 Rich noted that “as if to accentuate the falseness of the writing, Miss (Yvonne) Bryceland, so affecting later, plays Helen with a beatific, mannered dottiness of grating artificiality.” It’s funny but Miss Harris, one of the great treasures of the American theatre it should be noted, makes the same misguided choice and also comes off studied. Combined with Carla Gugino’s colorless, flat performance we can never fully appreciate what is generally considered an illuminating second act. Next month a spring preview! New York based theatre critic Brian Bradley is a voting member of the Outer Critics Circle. Send questions to brianbradleynyc@hotmail.

North Louisiana’s Oldest Hospice

318-212-2170

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March 2012

Family Features

Cottage Pie with Garlic Butter Serves 6 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, mashed 1 small onion, chopped 1 pound beef, freshly ground 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 1/2 cup dry white or red wine 1 cup beef stock 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon tomato paste Roux (recipe follows) Salt and freshly ground pepper For the Topping 3 pounds baking potatoes, unpeeled 1 cup whole milk, boiling Salt and freshly ground pepper 2 tablespoons Irish butter 1 Tbs. chopped chives (optional) ¼ cup grated Dubliner cheese ¼ cup grated Aged Cheddar To Serve Garlic Butter (recipe follows) Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add garlic and onion and fry until soft and slightly brown. Increase heat, add ground beef and thyme and fry until beef changes color. Add wine, half the stock, Worcestershire

March 2012

sauce, and tomato paste. Simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, boil the unpeeled potatoes, then peel them. Add boiling milk and mash potatoes while they are still hot. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, and add butter and chives, if using. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring the rest of the stock to a boil and thicken it well with roux. Stir it into beef - it should be thick but still juicy. Taste and correct seasoning. Put meat mixture into one large or six indivi dual pie dishes. Pipe or spread mashed potato mixture over the top. Sprinkle with grated cheeses. Bake for 30 minutes, until top is golden and slightly crispy. Serve with garlic butter and a salad. Roux 8 tablespoons Irish butter Scant cup all-purpose flour Melt butter in a pan and cook flour in it for 2 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. It will keep for two weeks in the refrigerator. Garlic Butter (Slather over bruschetta or toast) 8 tablespoons Kerrygold Irish butter 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley 3 to 5 cloves crushed garlic A few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice Whip butter, then add in parsley, garlic and a few drops of lemon juice at a time. Roll into butter pats or form into a roll and wrap in parchment paper or foil, twisting each end. Refrigerate to harden.

hey came in the 1840s to escape the devastating potato famine. And they stayed to become part of the fabric of America. Today 36.9 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry, second only to those who claim German heritage, and more than eight times the population in Ireland, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2009 statistics. Enduring hardships and privations, the foods these Irish immigrants cooked in the new land would have replicated foods that reminded them of home - dishes such as cottage pie and Irish apple cake. Below are recipes for these dishes from Darina Allen’s “Forgotten Skills of Cooking,” (Kyle Books, 2009). Allen, considered the Julia Child of Ireland, is on a mission to teach everyday home cooks the kind of cooking skills early Irish immigrants would have practiced. The recipes below feature Irish dairy products because dairying has been a part of Ireland for centuries, long before potatoes. “In Ireland we can grow grass like nowhere else in the world,” said Allen with pride. “So we have fantastic butter, lovely cream and, of course, cheese. Butter is the fat of the land. Our animals are grass-fed. Grass-fed gives more flavor and more complex nutrients. This is what we are. Dairy products come from this beautiful, lush green grass.” Try these recipes for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, visit www.kerrygoldusa.com.

Kerrygold Aged Cheddar, Cashel Blue farmhouse cheese, Dubliner and Blarney Castle Irish cheese served with chutneys and brown bread. www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Irish Apple Cake “Irish Apple Cake varies from house to house, and the technique has been passed from mother to daughter in farmhouses all over the country for generations.” Serves about 6 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 8 tablespoons Irish butter ½ cup superfine sugar, divided 1 egg About ¼ to ½ cup whole milk 1 to 2 cooking apples 2 to 3 cloves, optional Egg wash 10-inch ovenproof plate Preheat the oven to 350°F. Sift flour and baking powder into bowl. Rub in butter with your fingertips until it resembles the texture of bread crumbs then add 1/3 cup superfine sugar. Make a well in the center and mix to a soft dough with beaten egg and enough milk to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a board divide in two. Put one half onto an ovenproof plate and press it out with floured fingers to cover the base. Peel, core, and chop up apples. Place them on the dough and tuck in cloves, if using. Sprinkle over some or all remaining sugar, depending on the sweetness of the apples. Roll out the second half of the pastry and fit it on top - easier said than done as this “pastry” is more like scone dough and as a result is very soft. Press the sides together, cut a slit through the lid, egg wash, and bake for about 40 minutes or until cooked through and nicely browned on top. Dredge with superfine sugar and serve warm with raw sugar and softly whipped cream. The Best Of Times

All the independence. None of the hassle. Summerfield Estates provides all-inclusive and carefree independent retirement living in a safe and enriching environment. Visit today for your personal tour. Welcome to Holiday. Welcome home. ©2011 HARVESt mAnAgEmEnt SuB, LLc 14703

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Independent Retirement Living 9133 Baird Road, Shreveport, LA 71118 | 318-688-9525 | summerfieldestates.net March 2012

ACROSS 1. Mothball substitute 6. *"___ Whom the Bell Tolls," by Hemingway 9. Equal 13. Camel's relative 14. *Baseball great Gehrig 15. ___ the tail __ the donkey 16. IRS threat 17. Unit of electrical resistance 18. Los _____, CA 19. *Moldable material that had huge commercial impact 21. *Location of famous fall 23. *___ Francisco, site of 1906 Great Earthquake 24. *Buddy Holly hit, "____ On" 25. *Mary ___, businesswoman extraordinaire 28. *Belushi famously chanted this in "Animal House" 30. Bivouac 35. Big bang theory's original matter 37. *The "Fab Four's" original number 39. *Movie "_____ Recall" 40. Spanish earthen pot 41. Robin Hood's companion 43. Vegan's protein choice 44. What you pay to pass, pl. 46. Doctor's order 47. Incision

March 2012

48. Pearl maker 50. *Colorful building block 52. One from Laos 53. Not yet final or absolute 55. Rangers and Flyers field of play 57. *It carried Gagarin into space 60. *Chilly conflict 64. Can be used intermittently 65. The Jackson 5's "___ Be There" 67. Nose of a missile, e.g. 68. Cleverly funny 69. Customer's dread 70. Complete list of Catholic saints 71. Type of list 72. Marines are this and proud? 73. Swedish money DOWN 1. *It can turn some lights on and off 2. Twelfth month of civil year 3. *Nihilistic cultural movement 4. Awry 5. Knocks on the door, e.g. 6. Farm Labor Organizing Committee 7. Expression of amazement 8. Ballroom dance based on Cuban folk dance 9. Under a window 10. ____-perspirant 11. *One small step for man?

20th CENTURY

12. Half the width of ems 15. *JFK to John-John 20. __ and out; on and ___ 22. The day before 24. Typically filled with cheese or meat 25. *_____ Protocol, a framework for climate change 26. Bronze, e.g. 27. Hollers 29. Encircle 31. Rolled out for guests, pl. 32. Coral reef island

33. *Subject of "The Godfather" 34. *Demoted planet 36. Scotch ingredient 38. "Ill at ____" 42. Latin for "region" 45. Lookout man 49. Home of 2016 Olympics 51. According to the clock 54. Small boat 56. *J. _____ Hoover, of the FBI 57. Henry ____ 58. Prefers

Solution on pg 39

59. Comedian ____ Rogan 60. Ball of yarn 61. A drunk 62. Shakespeare's hometown river 63. Actress ____ Sofer 64. *Domain of latter part of century 66. *Martial artist, Bruce ___

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SUDOKU Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column, and 3 x 3 box includes all digits 1 through 9. (Solution on page 39)

SHREVEPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MICHAEL BUTTERMAN, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Simply Classic 2011-2012 SEASON

LUCK O’ THE IRISH

JOHN O’CONOR, PIANO St. Patrick's Day Word Search (solution page 39) Beer Blarney Stone Cabbage Clover Corned Beef Cottage Pie Green Ireland Irish Jig Legend Leprechaun Lucky Parade Pot Of Gold Pub Rainbow Saint Patrick Seventeenth Shamrock

SATURDAY, MARCH 17—7:30 PM Riverview Theatre 600 Clyde Fant Parkway

GRAINGER—Irish Tune from County Derry, “Danny Boy” FIELD—Piano Concerto No. 6 BEETHOVEN—Symphony No. 7

SSO 2012

Piano Celebration JAN FEB MAR

TICKETS & DETAILS: www.shreveportsymphony.com

318.227.8863

Tickets start at $17

The Best Of Times

March 2012

Get Up & Go! bridge

North American Bridge Championship - Presented by ACBL. March 15 - 25. Memphis, Tennessee. Cook Convention Center. Bridge Blast weekend March 16 - 19. Free lessons and free game opportunities for newcomers. Visit www.acbl.org/ NABC/ for a full schedule of events

concerts

Shreveport Symphony - Luck o' the Irish. March 17 at 7:30. RiverView Theatre in downtown Shreveport. Tickets are $17 - $42. Call 227-8863.

conference

Alzheimer's Caregivers Conference Hosted by The Alzheimer’s Association. The event features two sessions with the first “Strategies Pertinent to Families” from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and “Family Perspectives & Survival Tips” from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free to the public, but pre-registration is encouraged. Free parking and light refreshments. To register, call Debbie Hayes at (318) 861-8680.

driver safety

AARP Driver Safety Program - A 4 hour classroom refresher course for drivers age 50+ which may qualify participants for an automobile insurance premium reduction or discount. Participants must preregister. $14 for non-AARP members; $12 for AARP members (AARP card required at registration). Correct change

March 2012

or checks payable to AARP accepted. • March 12 - 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon. First Baptist Church Minden, 301 Pennsylvania Ave, Minden. Contact: Lisa Gould 318-377-4434; Instructor: James Smith.

Exhibit & live broadcast

Bodies Revealed Exhibition - Through May 21 at SciPort: Louisiana's Science Center, 820 Clyde Fant Pkwy. An up-close look inside the human body. Monday Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday Noon - 6 p.m. • Gary Calligas will host a LIVE remote broadcast of The Best of Times Radio Hour at SciPort on Saturday, March 24th at 9 am to discuss the Bodies Revealed exhibit with Karen Wissing, Public Relations and Marketing manager. This radio show is proudly sponsored by Dr. J. Gary Booker. Don't miss the fun and a chance to win great door prizes.

march

March for Meals on Wheels - Wednesday March 14 at 12 noon. Participants will march from the Courthouse on Texas Street to the Red River District. The March will raise awareness and money to fight senior hunger.

movie

Sci-Port's Golden Days Matinee Weekdays 1 - 4 p.m. On the Shreveport riverfront. Seniors enjoy an IMAX film, FREE admission to Sciport galleries

and a frozen yogurt. Games & activities available. All for $9. Groups call (318) 424-8660 to schedule.

opera

Shreveport Opera - Madama Butterfly - March 31. RiverView Theatre in downtown Shreveport at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 - $90. Call 227-9503.

seminar

“How to Get the Government to Help Pay for Your Long Term Care” Presented by elder law attorneys Joseph Gilsoul and Kyle Moore. Thursday April 19 at 6 p.m. at Horizon Bay, 2540 Beene Blvd., Bossier City. There is no charge but reservations are required. RSVP to Brandy or Ginny at (318) 222-2100.

senior olympics

2012 Northwest Louisiana District

www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Senior Olympics - March 24 - May 23. For more info and a complete schedule of events visit www.nwlsog.org. • Saturday March 24. 9:00 a.m. Beanbag Baseball. Knights of Columbus Bossier, 5400 E. Texas, Bossier City. Teams that avoid elimination continue play on Saturday, March 31, 9 a.m.

tennis

Fun, Friends, and Fitness Tennis Program - Sponsored by the Northwest Louisiana Community Tennis Association. This is a great opportunity for adults to be introduced to tennis, or to get back into the game. 12 hours of instruction at 6 sites for only $25. 10 a.m. - 12 noon. Dress comfortably and wear tennis shoes. Tennis rackets available for use during the session. For more info or to register visit www. nwlacta.com or email vcquarles@caddo. k12.la.us • March 17- Querbes Tennis Center • March 24 - Southern Hills Tennis Center • March 31 - Cockrell Tennis Center • April 7 - Querbes Tennis Center • April 14 - Bossier Tennis Center • April 21 - StoneBridge Tennis Center

and cultural venues in the Downtown Shreveport area. Each month features different locations and special events. A professional tourguide rides along on the green trolley offering interesting tidbits about Shreveport’s multicultural history. Trolley tours run approximately every 20 minutes from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Beginning at Artspace at 710 Texas St. For more information including this month’s destinations, contact the Shreveport Regional Arts Council at (318) 673-6500 or artspace at (318) 673-6535. Le Tour des Jardins - Presented by Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners. Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday May 6 from noon till 5:00 p.m. Five beautiful gardens created by home gardeners and one professional garden, for a total of six gardens are on this years’ tour. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the gardens the day of the event. Tickets are available at the Randal T Moore Center, at any Citizens National Bank location or from any NWLA Master Gardener. For more information contact the Master Gardeners Office at (318) 6980010 or www.lsuagcenter.com/nwlamg.

Wine Event

Cork: A Red River Wine Event Saturday March 31. 2 - 5 P.M. Pavilion at Festival Plaza, Downtown Shreveport. The event features wines from around the world, delicious samplings of signature dishes from the area’s finest restaurants, and live music. Wine experts of the regions represented will be on hand to offer advice, answer questions, and discuss fine wines. Tickets are $75 or a reserved table for 10 for $1250. Proceeds support the Red River Revel Arts Festival. To purchase tickets visit www.CorkWineFestival.com

Contact Jessica Grigsby for a free membership in Agentra’s prescription, vision and hearing discount program.

Jessica Grigsby - Agent 318-828-9040 • jgrigsby@agentraagent.com

theatre

Shreveport Little Theatre - Over the Tavern. March 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10 at 8:00 pm; March 4 and 11 at 2:00 pm Tickets are $15 for seniors, students and active military, $17 for adults. Tickets may be purchased at box office, 812 Margaret Place, from noon – 4 p.m. weekdays, or by calling 424-4439.

tours

Free Trolley Tour - Every 3rd Thursday, hop on the FREE trolley to see arts

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March 2012

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March 2012

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Veterans Family and Memorial Care Program Forest Park Funeral Home is a proud member of the Veterans Family and Memorial Care program. As a certified provider of this program, Forest Park upholds the tradition of serving those who have honorably served us. Contact Forest Park Funeral Home (1201 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport, La. 71101) at (318) 221-7181 for details on the benefits of using them to preplan veterans’ funerals. Forest Park looks forward to assisting you in the preplanning of your veteran’s service.

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Best Friends Care “A Best Friend to Share Lasting Memories”

Providing services to clients in Caddo, Bossier and Webster Parishes Very Affordable Rates 10% Discount for all military and veterans

March 2012

ossier Council on Aging Valentines Day

Luncheon hosted and sponsored by the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Bossier City.

Alfred and Norma Larramendi, and sisters Angeline Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Anna, Mary Jones, and Dorothy Brocato

BCOA Executive Director Tamara Crane (standing) awards a $100 gift certificate to Binonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steakhouse to Jim and Doris Harper for being the longest married couple attending the luncheon.

March 2012

Barbara Kethley and Jim Tyler

Mary Mundy and George Williamson

Garland and Frances Williford

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ODIES REVEALED exhibit opened at SciPort on January 28 and will run until May 21. The exhibit provides an opportunity to see inside carefully preserved real anatomical specimens and learn the detailed structure and function of the human body.

March Parting Shots continued Bossier Council on Aging

Bodies Revealed Exhibit Chief Medical Director Dr. Roy Glover

Lynette Aiken and Londell Noble, with Tamara Crane (standing)

Above: Pat Dial, Ruby Buchanan; Barbara Tabor, and Pat Ivanamberg Right: Shelli Briery with Juanita Tucker

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Jeri and Chuck Lancaster

Kristen Gary and Robin Williams

March 2012

March Parting Shots continued

Krewe of Centaur The Grand Bal of the Krewe of Centaur was held on January 28 at the Shreveport Convention Center

Queen Shirley Hart, Captain Sophie Duke, and King Randy James

Sonja Bailes, Tom and Diane LaBarbera, Ed Walsh

Left Above Clockwise: Sophie Kastanos and Pete Theo Tom and Cynthia Flynn Sue and Clarence Babineaux with Suzanne Yount

Valentine’s Tea Party Brenda Griffith, Queen Mother Lynda Herzog, and Jan Bland attend Herzog’s Hilarious Hellyuns of Haughton’s Valentine’s Tea Party at Sam’s Town.

March 2012

www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

March Parting Shots continued

A Professional Bindery offering restoration and hand binding of: held their annual Mardi Gras Jazz Brunch on February 4. Area royalty joined in the festivities.

Below: Queen & King of Elders Liz and Richard Skyles

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Above left: Krewe of Centaur Captain Sophie Duke and Queen Shirley Hart  Above right: Sally and Jim Gardner Below (l to r): Emily Woods, Mary Harville, Betty McCain, Vada McGoldrick, and Madeline Holder

Women League Heart Health Awareness Event

Gwendolyn Barnes (center) received the Outstanding Woman Award at Star Women Association and PHP Outreach Women League Heart Health Awareness Event held on February 2 in observance of National Heart Health Month. Pictured here with Charlyn Cleere (left) and Felicia Hinton.

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March 2012

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March 2012

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March Parting Shots continued

Annual Talent Show at The Oaks of Louisiana

tar Struck, the 2nd annual talent show for residents and staff of The Oaks of Louisiana, was held on January 31st. Below: Members of Live Oak Rookies and Astros Bean Bag Baseball teams

MACULAR DEGENERATION Imagine A Pair Of Glasses That Can Help You See Better! Ever look through a pair of field glasses or binoculars? Things look bigger and closer, and easier to see. Dr. Mona Douglas is using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have decreased vision, to see better. In many cases, special telescopic glasses can be prescribed to enhance visual performance. She can often help people read, watch TV, see the computer and sometimes drive. Telescopic glasses cost between $1900-$2600. It is a small price to pay for the hours of enjoyment with better vision and more independence.

For more information and a FREE telephone interview call:

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Dr. Mona Douglas, Optometrist Shreveport . Monroe . Lafayette www.IALVS.com Daniel Hennigan

Aubrey Capelan sings God Bless America

Singer Natalie Bethard was the grand prize winner

Lynda Cash at the piano

2012 Seniors Domino Tournament

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Senior Care at Brentwood Hospital Levels of Care

Glen Giles and James Samuels were the winners of SPAR’s Airport Park Community Center’s recent 2012 Seniors Domino Tournament

• Inpatient • Partial Hospitalization (Day Treatment) • Outpatient

Call us, we can help!

Brentwood Senior Care Unit (318) 678-7500

Warning Signs That May Indicate the Need for Treatment

• • • • • • • •

Depression, extreme sadness Confused thinking, difficulty concentrating Hallucinations; hearing voices Misuse of alcohol or medications Disorientation Numerous unexplained physical ailments Difficulties coping with daily living Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness

March 2012

Turning 65 and have questions about Medicare? • What are my options? • Which plan is right for me? • Which company will best meet my needs? • How do I choose?

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Let’s talk. To arrange a personal appointment, please call us today.

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11/11